Rachel & Sam on adventure, curiosity, and creativity.

I purchased these fun neon straws at the grocery store and cut them down to a more stylish length.

Context: I have had visions of frozen margaritas dancing in my head ever since I realized my (okay, technically it’s my brother-in-law’s) ice cream maker can be used to make frozen beverages.

Problem: The internet (as far as I can tell) offers only a single recipe for frozen margs made in an ice cream maker. The Cuisinart recipe booklet included with our machine also provided a recipe for “Raspberry ‘Ritas,” but neither recipe fit my vision. They also had conflicting information, such as when to add the alcohol (mix with lime juice first, or wait until the last few minutes of mixing?)

Solution: Through combining recipes and some experimentation, I’ve created an easy frozen margarita recipe. Cheers!

Frozen Limeade Margaritas

Makes 3-4 servings

36 oz. (4.5 cups) limeade

3 oz. chilled Triple Sec

6 oz. chilled tequila

optional: lime wedge for garnish

Turn on the ice cream maker and pour in the limeade. Allow the limeade to begin to form a slush consistancy (approximately 15 minutes). Add the Triple Sec and tequila. The mixure may partially liquify again. Leave it mixing in the ice cream maker until it has reached the slush consistancy again (approximately 10 minutes). Pour into glasses and garnish with a lime wedge. Store in the freezer and defrost 15 minutes before serving.

NOTE: This recipe can be made without an ice cream maker. Mix the limeade, Triple Sec, and tequila and freeze for 4-5 hours, stirring occasionally.

If there’s one thing I love more than camping, it’s planning a camping trip. In fact, preparing for any sort of trip is my idea of a good time (check out my recent post, What to Pack on a 7-Hour Bus Ride).

For this coming weekend, Sam and I have instigated a twelve person, three campsite, outdoorsy weekend bash in the lush wilderness of upstate New York. With such a large group, making a packing list has been a three week endeavor. Planning out supplies for camping is super-important because you’re basically building a kitchen, bedroom, and living area from scratch when you set up a campsite. There’s so much to remember!

Here’s our packing list, which hopefully will help when you plan your own outdoorsy weekend events!

Taking the bus is never my first choice of transportation. But since buses are cheap and go pretty much everywhere, I find myself on them quite often. The ride between Manhattan and Boston’s South Station is practically my second home. Last week, I made a late-night journey from New York to Portland, Maine. While packing, I had been thinking about all my past 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9-hour rides and decided to share my tips. Here’s how to make an epic, long-haul bus ride bearable:

Food and Drink: Once in college, I got stuck on a delayed bus with my best friend and our only remaining snack was a bag of banana granola. I will never eat banana granola again.

The key with bus snacks is to focus on the three major food groups: sweet, salty, savory. Clementines, sliced apples, M&Ms, and Fig Newtons, or a baked goods like chocolate chip cookies are my favorite sweet snacks. Carrot sticks, pretzels, nuts, cheese, and peanut butter crackers are good standbys for salty. Savory is tough because cold leftover tofu and broccoli in soy sauce eaten from a Tupperware container just isn’t that appealing on the bus. Usually I’ll save my savory treat for a dollar-menu item from the obligatory roadside rest stop. Gum and hard candies are always good for passing the time.

Don’t forget a water bottle, too. I usually avoid bringing onboard any beverage without a screw-on cap, because unless I am motivated to stumble around the bus looking for a trash bag when I finish my drink (which I never am) the remaining liquid in my to-go cup is definitely going to end up on my shirt or on the inside of my carry-on.

If you’re super-organized you’ll remember to bring a few napkins and a plastic bag that can be used for trash.

Clothing: There is only one rule of bus-ride attire, and it’s mandatory: bring a sweatshirt. Even if it’s 95 and sunny, bring a sweatshirt. Drivers tend to blast the A/C to keep people from getting car sick, so you’ll probably need it, but even if your bus isn’t so chilly, a sweatshirt is the perfect makeshift pillow.

Entertainment: Let’s start with the built-in entertainment: the friends you bring or make on the bus (here’s my opening line for potential bus friends: “so, what are you doing in ___ this weekend?”) and the big ol’ window at your side. Obviously, most of your trip will probably have just boring highway, but I love seeing New York City from the bus when I’m driving in or out of Manhattan. I’ve also seen deer and a double rainbow on recent trips.

Now, for the supplies you need to bring. A notepad and pen will always come in handy for list-making, hangman-playing, and–if your trip gets really delayed–a travel journal with all of the hilarious and/or upsetting shenanigans that occur on an absurdly long bus ride.

If I’m traveling alone, I may invest in a trashy magazine, but if I’m with a friend a good catalog (like J.Crew or Anthropologie) is preferable. Then we can play the game where we choose our favorite items on each page.

Obviously the iPod is a life-saver for lulling yourself into a music-induced haze, but when I’m feeling productive, I also like to take the opportunity to catch up on texts and organize my smartphone (app updates/deleting dumb pictures/clearing out text messages/rearranging home screen.)

It does take a little time to properly prepare for an epic bus ride, but remember that the best way to sleep on a bus is to stay up all night packing the night before!

As I have recently found myself unemployed yet again, I have had a lot of free time to enjoy my summer and figure out what it is I want to do next. My room is now much cleaner than it ever was before, and I have time to start all my fun craft projects I have been dreaming of, so it’s not all bad. While many of my crafts would be my top 5 favorite things, most of them aren’t ready to be seen yet, but don’t worry I’ll let you know when they are. Now on to all the wonderful things in no particular order….

5. Pretty flowery tank top

Flowery patterns aren’t usually my thing, but I just couldn’t pass on those fun bright colors. And I could use a couple shirts that aren’t those comfy v-neck shirts from Target that I have in just about every color now.

4. Refinished chair

I have been working a lot lately on refinishing some furniture and other crafts, and so far this is one of my favorites. I found it on the side of the road–or rather my dad did–and it was ugly and brown. I wish I had taken a photo of it before. I think it turned out pretty well!

3. Bright Orange Toms

My parents got these for me for staying home and watching the dog while they were on vacation. They are so summery; I love them! I don’t even care that they clash with most of my outfits. They are just too cheery not to wear, especially with all this rain we have been having here.

2. Rolling Cart

This was my birthday present. I was so excited. It’s got little wheels, so I move it around all the time. Right now it’s holding some plants, since I am quickly running out of space in my room with all my plants. My plan is to make a serving tray out of some reclaimed wood to fit on the top and make it a cute little drink cart.

1. My Teal-Colored Hair

I have been wanting to do this for awhile, but was afraid it wasn’t work appropriate, so now is the perfect time for it. It’s not much–just a couple little streaks–but it’s enough to make me happy and that’s all that matters. 🙂

As I finish more of my summer craft projects I’ll let you know. I have some pretty exciting ones In the works. In the mean time, feel free to share your favorite summer things or any crafts you may be working on. I could always use some inspiration!

I’ll admit it–I’ve been a bit spendy this spring. Usually I’m a frugal gal–not just by necessity, but by nature, but for the past six weeks or so, that has all gone out the window. I started a new job in March and for the first time in a while, could justify a few totally self-indulgent purchases. That being said, I’m still an excruciatingly careful shopper; I want my purchases to be practical, reliable, versatile, and fit with my style. Now that I’ve tried out all my new purchases for summer, here are my six faves:

5. Brooklyn Industries black tee with detailing

This was a rare spur of the moment purchase for me–I bought it to get a discount on another item, but it has proved to be a valuable addition to my wardrobe. It fits loosely without being saggy–making it the perfect counterbalance to my beloved Uniqlo jeggings.

4. Knock off Keds

They’re not name-brand sneaks, but that’s kind of why I love them. Two weeks ago, I was eating a bagel in Central Park and a huge blob of onion chive cream cheese fell on the ground. Ten minutes later, I stepped in that blob of cream cheese, but did I care? Nope. In $15 sneaks, my failures of observation are a lot less upsetting.

3. Galaxy S3 wallet case

Summertime is about traveling light. Anytime I can ditch a backpack–or better yet–the whole purse, I’m happy to do so. This wallet means I’m less likely to lose my phone, debit card, metro card, and ID this summer (or at least, if I do lose them, it’ll be all at once, which makes things that much more fun, right?)

2. Target fusha tank

Another cheapie purchase that I plan to get my money’s worth of this season. I love the color and the racerback style; I usually throw it on over one of my neon sports bras (also from Target) and am GTG.

2. Dansko Thea sandalish shoes

It’s a work shoe!… It’s a party shoe!… No–it’s a surprisingly comfortable walking shoe! I’ve wasn’t a Dansko girl until earlier this week, but consider me fully converted. They were pricey, but are one of the most versatile pairs of shoes I’ve ever owned. If you’re going to spend the money, get them in a neutral color and wear them everywhere.

1. Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Aside from the fact that I still need to learn how to use most of its features, I. Love. This. Camera. It’s compact enough to carry around comfortably (like to this Matt & Kim concert) but still takes stunning photos. I’m sure they’ll be even more stunning once I get a grip on what all the buttons do.

Last week served as an unwelcome reminder of how unsteady the world is under our feet. Sometimes, life is unpredictable in unkind ways. I escaped to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on Saturday, because it always reminds me how surprisingly beautiful the world is.